RFK Brings Federal Health Agenda to Texas and Florida

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. brought the Trump administration's health agenda to Texas and Florida, announcing initiatives focused on kidney disease, dementia prevention, medical nutrition education, and access to women's health treatments.

During a four-day "Take Back Your Health Tour," Kennedy met with healthcare providers, medical educators, patient advocates, and pharmaceutical manufacturers in Fort Worth, Texas, and Orange Park, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami, Florida. The visits centered on chronic disease prevention, earlier detection, and expanding patient treatment options.

On October 20, Kennedy visited JPS Health Network in Fort Worth, where we announced HHS' National Kidney Plan. The plan focuses on prevention, patient choice and competition, and transplantation. He also announced up to $4.67 million through the KidneyX Prize Competition to support earlier identification of kidney disease risk and nutrition and lifestyle approaches intended to preserve kidney function.

"Across Texas and Florida, we put that mission into action — detecting kidney disease earlier, strengthening nutrition education for future doctors, advancing prevention and care for families facing dementia, and expanding access to women’s health treatments," said Kennedy.

JPS President and CEO Dr. Karen Duncan said diabetes and hypertension are among the leading causes of kidney disease, emphasizing the importance of prevention and effective chronic disease management.

The following day, Kennedy visited Lincoln Memorial University's DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine in Orange Park alongside U.S. Rep. Aaron Bean. He recognized medical schools committed to providing future physicians with at least 40 hours of nutrition education, or an equivalent competency-based curriculum. He also recognized Nemours Children's Health for signing HHS' Make Hospital Food Healthier Pledge.

On October 22, Kennedy joined federal health officials and Sen. Rick Scott at Broward Health Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale to announce a National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias. The plan establishes federal priorities for the next decade, including risk reduction, research, early detection, coordinated care, and support for caregivers.

Broward Health CEO Shane Strum said more than 41,000 Broward County seniors and nearly 600,000 Floridians live with Alzheimers disease, underscoring the need for prevention and earlier diagnosis.

Kennedy concluded the tour on October 23 at Noven Pharmaceuticals in Miami, where he toured hormone therapy manufacturing operations and met with Noven and Sandoz leaders. Discussions focused on improving the accessibility and affordability of hormone therapies.

The announcements advance the administration's Make America Healthy Again agenda, with an emphasis on prevention and patient choice. The long-term effects of the initiatives will depend on implementation, participation, and measurable improvements in access and health outcomes.